Beet topper



March 3, 1953 Filed Dec. 5, 1947 F1-El J. A. DIETHELM BEET TOPPER 3 Sheets-Sheet l wvmbofn JOHN A. D/ETHELM s@ OM, #y

March 3, 1953 J. A. DIETHELM 2,629,979

BEET TOPPER Filed Dec. 5, 1947 s sheets-sheet 2 March 3, 1953 .1. A. DIE-rHl-:LM

BEET TOPPER I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Deo. 5, 1947 m. .HHM S.

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JVOHN A, D/ETHELM w, @M1/w+ #7@ www vm: Mm.

Patented Mar. 3, 195

UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in sugar heet harvesting equipment and more particularly to an implement for cutting oil the tops of the beets preliminary to the pulling and loading of the beets themselves.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a machine which will accurately cut off the tops of the beets, regardless of their size and height above ground, in said manner that just enough of the top or cap of each beet will be severed so that all green stuff will be removed, and will accomplish this work rapidly and ef iiciently. As is well known to those associated with the production of sugar beets, these beets vary considerably in their height above ground, and usually when there are beets in the row which project well above the soil it is these that have the heaviest foliage. Previous topping machines to my knowledge, while accommodating themselves to beets of diferent heights, remove about the saine amount of the tops or caps of the beets themselves, and thus are found to leave a little green stuit or leaves on the larger, or higher beets. This green stufl causes spoilage in the cars or stock piles at the sugar factory. My machine, by a novel cooperation of its elements automatically adjusts itself to cut deeper into a high, heavily foliaged beet than it does into the lower less heavily leaved beets, and as a result is found to completely remove the tops in all cases, with a minimum of cut or loss from the beets themselves.

A further object of my invention is to provide a machine having a cutter or cutting disk arranged to slice off the tops of the beets, and forwardly of said disk, an endless chain finder device which on its lower, forwardly inclined side or flight rides over the beets. Said finder has prongs which hold the beets in place as they are topped by the disk, and the iinder further is supported for up and down movements, as is the disk, so that these elements automatically accommodate themselves to beets of different heights along the row. Further, as an important feature and object of my invention, the up and down movements of the under and cutter disk are proportionately related so that as the nder rises to ride over a high beet the disk will also rise but to a lesser degree so as to take a deeper bite into the high, large and heavily foliage-d ,l

beet, to thereby remove all of the top stuff therefrom. Said nder further as an object of my in vention is arranged to run at its lower, beet engaging flight or span in a rearward direction at a speed so proportioned to the ground or forward (C1. 56-121AS) travel speed of the implement along the row as to hold the beets firmly as they are topped, or to actually thrust the beet slightly rearwardly to ward the cutter. This overcomes the tendency of previous nders, which merely drag across the tops oi the beets, to push the beets over so that they are sliced oli at an angle, or even only partially topped.

A large high beet sometimes occurs next in the row to a small, low beet and the usual topper after riding over the high beet has a tendency to miss the next one, by failing to drop fast enough to counteract the travel movement of the implement. In accordance with my invention, as an important object thereof, the nder and cutter elements are so supported that as the cutter drops off a high beet it also swings in a rearward direction which to a large extent cancels out the forward travel motion causing the cutter to drop almost straight down, in time in position to top the next beet even if it is a very small and low one.

Still another object is to provide a machine having the foregoing very desirable characteristics, which is also simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is arranged for convenient adjustment from the tractor which pulls it, and which has further detailed advantages as will be set out hereinafter.

These and other more detailed and specific objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a beet topping imn plement according to my invention, certain parts being broken away and shown in section, and showing the cutter in the process of topping a small and comparatively low beet.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. l., on a slightly enlarged scale, showing a high beet being topped.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view of a modi.- ed adjustment mechanism.

A. one row version of the machine is herein shown and described but it will be apparent that the parts may be duplicated as necessary for topping two, three or more rows simultaneously. Also, while I do not here show it for the reason that it is no part o1 the present invention, the machine may carry a harvesting conveyor for picking up the tops as they are cut from the beets, for use as a stock feed.

Referring now more particularly and by reference characters to the drawing, A designates bars E some distance from their forward ends, and

the side bars Il are joined by forwardly converging braces i3 supporting a drait bar le which is adapted to be coupled at l5 to the usual draw bar of a tractor C. A hand lever i6 is pivoted on the usual quadrant il on the hitch frame E and is connected by a link is to the forward end of the main frame A in such manner that the lever may be used to raise and lower the forward end of frame A as indicated in dotted line in Fig.

l. It will be noted that the hand lever l5 is in s a position for convenient operation by the operator from his seat D on the tractor. Y

The frame A supports two separate upwardly and downwardljy` swinging frame structures, one

of which will be called the cutter frame and is designated generally at E, and the other, the finder frame designated at F'. The cutter frame E comprises a pair or forwardly converging lower link bars or arms i-l and a single centrally located upper arm El. rEhese arms all are c oted upon a cross rod 22 from which they extend forwardly over the axle 5, the cross rod being mounted between upwardly turned rear ends 5a of the side bars 5. The forward ends of the lower arras lS-2li are pivoted at 23 to a bearing 2d,

while the upper arm 2l is similarly pivoted to the bearing at an upper point 2li. The bearing Zilforrns an elongated journal support for a cutter shaft 26 on the lower end of which, well below the bearing, is a cutter 2l having a large hub 2li. The cutter 2l takes the form of a peripherally sharpened circular diskand it will be noted that the arms so support the bearing 2li that this tilts forwardly somewhat from' a true horizontal position.

The cutter 2l' is power rotated from the tractor power take-ch? (notshown) by a drive shaft "All which is journaled through bearings 3Q on the frame member 'l and side bar end 5@L at one side ofthe machine, a conventional universal joint and, sleeve G connecting this shaft at its forwa d end to the power take-off shaft. At its rear end the drive shaft 23 carries a belt pulley 3l over which runs a belt 32. This belt is trained over idler pulleys 33e-3d upon a generally upright shaft 35 and then runs forwardly over a pulley 36 secured to the upper end of the cutter shaft 2S to complete the drive. Obviously, the belt will drive the cutter even as it is swung upwardly and downwardly with its swingable frame E but if necessaryva belt tightener may be used. The rear end ofthe machine is, of course, suitably framed to support the idler pulley shaft el?.

rIhe finder frame F comprises a generally upright front frame structure 3l which is clamped Vinclan'i'ps 3S secured to the upright forward porstructure. The lower end of the rear frame bar 39 is pivotally attached to a cross rod 45 whercon is also pivoted a lower tie bar 56. The bar d extends forwardly and is pivoted at a cross rod il carried at the lower end of the fran-ie structure 3l. Thus, there is formed rectilinear four sided frame structure, and depending from opposite ends of the cross rods IE5, d? are pairs of front and rear links lill-l between which extend sprocket shafts Elli- 5i carrying a plurality of sprockets 2--5S- Four, more or less, implementtype chains lill are trained around the sprockets Z-E and the shafts -l are held apart, and the chains held taut by side plates 55 through which the shafts pass. The endless conveyor or chain structure thus formed constitutes the under itself, and the arrangement is such that it inclines downwardly and rearwardly toward and operates centrally ahead of the cutter El. Obviously, the tie bars di, l so support the structure that the rear end of the nder has an upwardly and downwardly ii'oating action. The links "lli are locked on the rod il? so that the chain assembly is held against rearward swinging displacement.

The chains 5d are operated, to travel rearwardly at their lower nights or spans (note arrows in Figs. ll-2) by the travel movement of the machine and for this purpose a sprocket 5,5 is mounted upon the live axle 9, over which sprocket runs a drive chain 5l. .a countershaft 53 is journalcd in bearing brackets 59 upon the main frame front members l and another sprocket te, engaged with chains 5l' is placed on this shaft. Aligned sprockets El and '52 are then mounted on the countershaft E8 and forward sprocket shaft 55 and connected by a sprocket chain to thus run the finder chains 54.

The two frames E and F are connected by an angularly shaped actuating member or connecting link "6d which is pivoted at its lower end 135 to the ne part of the cutter bearing 24 and angles 'upwardly and then forwardly past the rear frame bar 3S to theup-per tie bars 1 -@32. The upper end ofthe link t@ has'a bifurcated attachment Sil which upwardly straddles the tie bars ll-i2 and this attachment is fastened by a bolt 57 to thelink, with a series of openings d to permit overall length adjustment of the link. The bars have longitudinal slots S9 and block lfd between the bars has laterally projecting pins Il to which the upper forked ends of the attachment 6'3 are pivoted. The blockri is topped to engage a han-:l screw l2 mounted rearwardly through a block 'i3 at the forward ends of the tie bars. The forward end of the hand screw 'i2 hasa crank l@ which may be readily reached from the tractor seat D, and the screw is, of course, prevented from axial displacement through the block i3 sc that by turning the crank the block 'i9 and attached upperV end of `link 6ft may be moved forwardly crfrearwardly as desired. Y

An adjustable stop 'l5 is mounted by abclt l on the forward trarne-structure 3l so that it will upwardly engage the tie bars 1li 2 and so limit down movement of both frames E and F. The stop device 'l5 has a slotl'l for the bolt 'leso that it may be adjusted to cause the cutter 2l to just clear or run at the surface of the ground, as will be evident.

In setting up the machine forv use in the-row the frame A is lowered from its transporty position,l at which the cutter'anjcl nder'are raised in the' clear, so that the cutter comes to rest' on' or very near the ground, depending upon the adjustment of the stop 15. The frame F is properly adjusted through the clamps 3S so that the `rear lower part cf the finder stands just above the cutter and forwardly of its hub 28.

The chains 54 have projecting prongs or teeth 'i8 to engage the beet tops and now as the machine is set in motion the chains are run rearwardly as previously described. Now, as the ,chains (or finder) reach a beet they will engage its top as the cutter 2'I moves into engagement with the beet. The cutter is, of course, rotating and it will slice off the beet top while the beet is held firmly by the nder resulting in a neat and accurate topping cut. 'The amount of the top or cap of the beet itself severed is obviously determined by the space between the rear end of the finder and the forward part of the cutter and this distance, and the cut, may be varied by turning the crank '14. Thus, as the crank is turned to pull the upper end ci the link t4 forward the cut will be decreased since the cutter is raised relative to the nder, and vice versa.

The finder chains 5d run at a speed so proportioned to the rate of forward travel of the machine that they will hold the beets rmly as they are topped, but without grinding or chewing up the tops. In fact, the running speed of the chains may be slightly greater than the travel speed of the machine so that the finder will slightly push the beets rearwardly into the cutter. It will be readily understood that the finder in either case will have absolutely no tendency to push the beets over forwardly as so many other machines do. It will further be readily appreci-1 ated that the selected ratio between finder running speed and machine travel speed will be re tained regardless of the variation in the latter since the finder is driven from the machine axle.

As the tops are severed they are cast out to one side by fins i9 on the cutter hub and the tops are deposited between the rows ready for harvesting for use as feed, or any other purposes.

When the machine encounters a beet which is large and stands high above the ground such as seen to the right in Fig. 1, as being cut in Fig. 2, the finder chains ride up over the top of the beet, swinging the rear part of the frame F upwardly. The upward movement of frame F is transmitted to the cutter 2l through the link 54 thus also raising the cutter. However, and here lies an important feature of my invention, the cutter does not rise as far as the finder for the reason that the leverage acting upon link 64 v(from points d3 to 1I) is less than the length of the connecting bars II-G2. Thus, while the cutter also rises, it lags behind and as a result (see Fig. 2) takes a deeper bite into the beet to remove a little more of the top thereof. As previously eX- plained, these high, usually larger beets, have more bushy and profuse tops and this deeper cut is necessary so that all foliage is removed. Ob-

viously this arrangement permits the out to vary i them oi' at a bevel, as occurs in some other machines.

The diierential between the upward movement of the nder and that of the cutter may be regulated by turning the crank 74 to vary the accadr V6 leverage operating as the link 64 as will be derstood. In practice, the operator after sizing up the row will make this adjustment according to the number of large and high beets and will select the minimum normal cut to secure proper topping and minimum waste.

It will be noted that as the cutter moves down `after topping the higher beet it will also swing rearwardly due to the rear pivot for the arms I9, 2G and 2 I. Thus, as the cutter drops ofi the high beet it will also swing back and this rearward movement in part at least compensates for the forward travel of the machine. Thus, the cutter drops almost, if not entirely, straight down in position to top thenext beet (if it is small) without any tendency to slip or imperfectly top the same. This too, is a failing of some other machines of my knowledge, which my improved topper overcomes. The importance of this feature is not too minimized since it is true that the beet next to a large high one is usually a small low beet, as is well known to those skilled in this field.

A modification of the adjustment for the cutter frame structure is shown in Fig. 4. In this case the upper end of the link te', instead of being slidably connected to the upper tie bars I -i2, is pivoted at Hill to a bell crank lever II'II fulcrumed at H32 upon a clamp ID3. Said clamp |533 is adapted to be adjusted along the tie bar 4I' (the extra bar d2' may here be omitted), and clamped in any set position. A hand screw Iliii has its threaded end I05 engaged with a nut It on the upper end of the lever IIlI, and the screw extends forwardly through a bracket IIl'I and terminates in a hand crank |08. Stops: Ilia on the screw prevent its lengthwise displacement through the bracket, and it will be apparent that by turning the crank I U8 the bell crank lever iI may be oscillated to raise or lower the link 54 and the cutter attached thereto. The bite of the cutter may thus be adjusted as required, while the differential in the cutter-iinder movements previously described may be set by adjusting the clamp ii3 along the tie bar 4I It may be noted that in the low position (Fig. 1) the cutter 21 stands at its forward edge :Eur-s ther back with respect to the finder, than it does when the parts are raised as they travel over and top a high beet. See Fig. 2. In other words, as the cutter moves up it also swings forward further beneath the nder and is thus in position to top the high beet, which needs support against the thrust of the cutter, while this beet is rmly held by the nder.

It is understood that suitable modiiications may be made in the structure as disclosed, provided such modifications come within the spirit and scopeA of the appended claims. Having now therefore fully illustrated and described my in vention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a beet topping machine of the character described, a wheel borne frame adapted to travel along the beet row, a cutter pivotally supported on the frame for up and down swinging move ments with respect thereto, means operative to lift the cutter as it tops a high beet and to lower it as it tops a lower beet, and the pivot for said support being located on the frame upwardly and rearwardly of the cutter whereby the cutter will swing in an arcuate and rearward direction as it moves downwardly olf a high beet.

2. In a beet topping machine of the character described, a main frame adapted to travel along the beet row, separate cutter and nder frame 7 structures'connected tothe main frame 'for up and 'down movements with .respect thereto, 'a cutter on the frame structure for topping the beets, a finder on the iinder frame structure operative to ride up on and overthe beet tops in advance oi the cutter and hold the beets as they are topped, the iinder frame including a connecting bar arranged in a forwardly and rearwardly extending direction, and a link connected at its lower end to the cutter frame and at its upper end to the said connectinfr bar between its ends, and means for adjusting the connection point of the upper end of the link forwardly .andrearwardly along the connecting bar.

S. 'In a beet topping machine of the character described, a main frameiadapte Vto travel along the beet row, separatecutter and iinder .frame structures connected to the main frame vfor up and down movements with respect thereto, .a cutter on the cutter frame structure for topping the beets, a finder on the iinder -fraznestructure operative to ride up on and over the ,beet tops in advance ofthe cutter and hold the beets they are topped, the nnder frame including an upper forwardly and rearwardly extending connecting bar pivotally supported at thisfonward end for up and down swinging movements as the nnder rifles up and down over the beets, and a link pivotally connected at its upper vand lower ends to the cutter frame and the connecting bar respectively.

4. in a beet topping machine of the character described, a main frame adapted to travelvalong the beet row, separate cutter arl finder frame structures connected to the main frame for up and down movements with respect thereto, 1.a critter on the cutter frame structure for topping the beets, a nder on the finder frame structure operative to ride 'up on and over the beet tops` in advance of the cutter and hold the beets as theyare topped, the finder frame lincluding ,an upper forwardly and rearwardly extendingconnectin'g bar pivotally supporte-:l at its forward end for up down swinging niovementsas the nnder .rides `rup and. down over the beets,.a1ink pivotally connectedat its upper and :lowerrends to the cutter frame and the connecting bar .respectively, .andzneans for adjusting-'the linklup and clown with respect tothe connectingVv bar.

In a beet topping machine of the character described, a main frame adapted to travel along the beet row, separate cutter and nder frame structuresconneeted to the main iranieror up and down movements with respect thereto,f,a cutter on the cutter frame structure for topping the beets, a nnder on the finder frame structure operative to ride up on and over the beet tops in advance of the cutter hold the beets as they are topped, the finder frame Aincluding an upper forwardly and rearwardly extending connecting bar pivotally supported at its forward end for up and down swinging movements as the rlnder rides up 'and down over the beets, a link pivotally connected at its upper and lower ends to the cutter frame and the connecting bar respectively, and means for adjusting the connection of the upper end of the link Vforwardly and rearwardly on said connecting bar.

e. In a beet topping machine of the character described, a main frame adapted to travelalong the beet row, separate cutter and lnder frame structures connected to the main frame for-"up and clown movements Vwithv respect thereto, a

cutter 'on Athe cutter `frame structure for Atopping `the beets, arnder on'the finder frame structure operative `to ride up on and over the beet tops in advance of the kcutter and hold the beets as they are topped, the nder frame includinga'n upper .forwardly and rearwardlyextending connecting bar pivotally supported at its kforward end for up and down swinging movements as the finder rides up and down over the beets, a link pivotally connected `at its upper Vand lower endsto the cutter frame andthe connecting bar respectively, meansjfor adjusting the connection ,of the upperV end :of ,the `link forwardly, and 'rearwardly on said connecting bar, and also upwardly vand downwardly with respect tothatibar.

7. .In a .beet topping. machine of the Vcharacter described, amainframe adapted to travel along the beet, row, .separate cutter and nder vframe structures connected .to the main frame 'for' up and .down movements with respect thereto,y a

Vcutter Yontlie cutter frame structure or topping the beets, a nder on the .nder frame structure operative to ride up .on and vover the beet tops .in advance ofthe cutter and hold the-beets as they are topped, a linlcconnecting the cutter frame structure to a .part ofthe lnder frame. .structure to raise .and .lower the cutter ,as [the nndertravels over the beets, said nderframe having an upright part, `and clamp, means on `the mainframe adjustablysupporting said .up-

right part for bcdilyadjusting rthe, -nnder frame -upand down with respect to the vmain frame.

,18. In -.a beet topping machine of the character described; a 4main frame .adapted to travelalong ,the beet row, separate cutter-and nder frame structures connected tothe mainframe lforup and down movements .with respect theretala cutter on the frame structure for topping the beets, a finder on thek finder frame structure operative .to ride `up on and over the beet tops in advance of the cutter and hold the beets Vas they are topped, ,and the nder frame Aincluding relatively forwardly and rearwardly` spaced generally upright members and-,an upwardly located connecting memberv extending forwardly Land;v rearwardly, and-a link `connected-at its -lowerend tothe cutterv frameand gadjustably-connectedat :ltsupper Yend to thefsaid connecting memberl of JOI-IN- Al DIETHELM.

REFERENCES CITED VThe following references are of record in the Vdile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS LNumbier Name Date 856,394 Conner 'June 11, 1907 1,351,287 v Dex/ey Aug. 3l, 1920 1,462,486 Devey July 24 192-3 1,635,494 Moreau dm3/12,1927

15,651,039 Kowalslry Nov. 29 1'7927 v1,675,903 `Murphy July 3, '1928 V1,752,285 Andersen Apr. 1,;1930 1,951,444 "Sands ,Man .20, 19,34 2,141,806 Zielesch Dec. 271938 2,337,307 Beck Dec. 21, 1943 v 2,340,919 Allen l'eb.V 8, ,1944 2,369,850 "Powers Feb. 205-1945 32,430,665 Briggs ,Nov. 11, 1947 2,478,877 Smith Aug.-9, 1949 2,539,881 Wilkins Jan. 30,11951 

